Packing for well devices



June 18, 1940. R. c. BAKER I PACKING FOR WELL DEVICES Filed May 5, 1939 Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES ZMLMS PACKING FOR WELL DEVICES Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assigner to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 5, 1939, Serial No.'271,941

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to packing structures, and more particularly to well packing structures including rubber or similar materials exposed to comparatively high pressures or temperatures.

In oil ileld practice, natural or synthetic rub ber packings and the like are subjected to high temperatures and static pressures, which produce the cold owing of the packing material through any open hole or space between the well packer and the casing within which it is placed. This cold flowing often continues to such a great extent as to result in the eventual substantially complete displacement and dissipation of the packing material from the region where it should effect a desired seal with the walls of the casing. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packing structure capable of effectively withstanding high temperatures and static pressures, thereby presenting a maximum packing surface for effective sealing contact with the walls of a confining enclosure under such extreme conditions of operation. v

".Ihe invention has other objects that will become apparent from a consideration of several of its applications shownl in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present invention. These applications will now be described in detail, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: f

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention embodied in a well packershown positioned within a well casing;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, with the upper slips in set position:

Figure 3is a view similar to Figure l, with both the upper and lower slips in set position; and

resulting in a substantial, if not complete, loss of the packing from the region where the sealing ac- (cl. 16s-12) `By means of the present invention, such cold owing of the rubber material is prevented by encircling the packing where it is fastened to itsretainer with an annulus of a pliable but rela- 5 tively non-resilient material, capable of being deformed radially toward contact with its conning body and remaining in that position upon application of pressure to it and the non-metallic packing which it envelops. The material chosen 10 has very little tendency toward -cold flowing, and by virtue of its being deformed from its initial position to one in which it bridges the gap between the retainer and the walls of the conning member, it will prevent the non-metallic rubber lli` or other packing from flowing through that gap, and consequently ensures that the packing will provide an effective seal in the required region.'

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the invention is shown applied to a well packer in the form of a 20 cement retainer. 'I'he main body I0 of the packer is suitably connected to a running-in string Il by which it can be lowered to the desired 4position within the bore or casing, I2. The packer carries a plurality of upper annular segmental slips I I 25 secured to the body Vby shear,screws I4, and to an upper expander cone I5 by shear screws I6, the cone in turn being initially secured to the body by a plurality of shear screws il. Upward travel of the segmental slips is limited by a setting ring 30 I8 secured to the body.

A lower set of segmental slips I3 is circumferentially arranged around the body and secured thereto by shear screws 20. These'slps are also attached to a lower expander cone 2i by a plu- 35 .rality of shear screws 22, which cone is'initially 'fastened Yto thebody by a plurality of shear screws 23. l

Anatural or synthetic rubber packing sleeve 24 encircles the body and is secured at its op- 40 posite ends to the cones by means of inturned' anges 25, 25 on the cones received Within mating grooves 26, 26 near the terminal portions of the i sleeve, `such portions being provided with outsembly housing, and preventing it from seating against the lower end 36 of the body whenever reverse iiow of fluid tends to occur. v

In operation, circulation is first established through the packer, and a tripping ball 31 is then dropped .or pumped down through the run-in string until it seats upon the tripping ball seat 32, to prevent further passage of iiuid through the packer v(see Figure 2). Pressure is then built up within the body, causing fluid to pass through the ports 38 in the body and expand therubber sleeve 24 against the walls of the confining casing.` An upward force will also be exerted causing the cone I5 to shear its conning screws I1 and move upwardly on the body, shearing the slip screws I4, I6 and moving the slips I3 radially into en` ping ball 31 downwardly from the packer, thereby re-establishing circulation through the tool and releasing the back pressure ball for subsequent contact with the seat 36 in the lower end of the body. I'he taking of an upward strain on the run-in string II will move the bodly I0 upwardly to compress the non-metallic or rubber sleeve24 between the body and the casing and provide ari effective seal therebetween (see Figure 3). The continuance of this upward strain i will produce a shearing of the screws 20, 22, 23

' desired operation. Y

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holding the slips and cone together and to the main body, causing a shoulder 33 at the lower end of the body and on the valve housing, to engage the bottom of the slips I9 and move them upwardly along the tapered face of the cone 2| to force the lower slips radially into gripping engagement with the casing. The well packer is now held in position for the performance of the It will be noted thatan annular space exists between the walls of the casing and the exterior of the cones retaining, the non-metallic packing sleeve. As aforementioned, the subjecting of the packing sleeve to high pressures, such as are encountered within the casing and which are added to by the compression of the packing upon the taking of a strain on the run-in string, tends to yforce the packing into this annular space.

Under many operating conditions, this cold nowing of the packing is of such a great extent as topermit leakage of fluid, and in extreme cases results in complete dissipation of the packing material between the cones.

In accordance with the present invention,` cold flowing of the packing material is prevented by providing an external groove 40 in each end of the sleeve adjacent its restrainer rings or cones, which groove is preferably a continuation of the ila ge receiving groove 26, being defined by the e d of la cone and the beveiled or inclined side 4I in the rubber packing. An annulus 42 of pliable or relatively non-resilient material is inserted within this annular groove, having sides 413, 44 respectively opposed to the end of the cone I5 or 2I and the beveiled side 4I of the packing. The outer surface of the ring 42 is initially substantially flush with'the periphery of the sleeve.

'I'he restrainer'. rings 42 can be made from` several materials, among which are lead, tin, copper, and soft bronze. Due to its relatively low cost it is proposed to use lead, although it is to be understood that elements, compounds, and various associated cone and the walls of the casing (see Figure 3) The deformation of the rubber ,sleeve 'into 'contact with the walls of the casing is accordingly notv attended with cold flowing of the rubber beyond the retainer cones in view of the barrier presented by the restrainer rings of lead,- or. other material having similar characteristics. The pliable but relativelynon-resilient lead rings have very little tendency to iiowing beyond the cones, even upon being subjected 'to extremely highpressures and to temperatures below theA melting point of the particular material being used.

The restrainer rings 42 can be used in other applications than well packers. A piston is disclosed in Figure 4, including a main body 45 having a central flange 46 and non-metallicpacking elements 41, 41 on opposite sides thereof. The `adjacent ends of the flange and each packing element are interlocked by the mutual cooperation between their respective mating anges 4l,

.groove between it and said retainer means, and a pliant', inelastic annulus in said groove encircling and embracing said packing to prevent its passage between said retainer means and enclosure.

2. A packing structure, including a non--metallic packing adapted to engage thev walls of a y confining enclosure, retainer means to which said packing is secured, said packing-being provided with a circumferential recess defining a groove in conjunction with said retainer means, a side wall of said recess being inclined outwardly away from said retainer, and a pliant, inelastic annulus in said groove embracing said packing, said annulus having a side wall opposed to and contiguous said inclined packingwali.

3. In a well packer having a plurality of slips adapted to be engagedfwith the walls of a casing vby a conical expander; the combination there- Iii)l tallic packing sleeve secured to both of said expanders, and a pliant, malleable annulus surrounding said packing adjacent each of said expanders and adapted to be expanded outwardly by said packing to bridge the annular space between said expander and casing.

5. A well packer, including a rubber packing adapted to be engaged with the walls of a casing and having an external flange defining an external groove, retainer meanshaving an inturned flange within said groove, said flange defining an internal groove receiving said external flange, and a pliant, malleable annulus adjacent said retainer means received within said packing groove and `adapted to be expanded outwardly by said packing to bridge the annular space between Said retainer means and casing.

6. A well packer, including a rubber packing having a portion adapted to engage the .walls of a casing and a terminal reduced portion having an outwardly directed flange defining a groove between it and said wall engaging portion, retainer means having an inwardly directed flange filling part of said groove, said retainer flange defining an internal groove receiving said external flange, and a pliant, malleable annulus adjacent said retainer means filling the remainder of said packing groove, the external diameter of said annulus being initially substantially equal to the external diameter of said wall engaging packing portion.

7. A well packer, including a rubber packing having a portion adapted to engage the walls of a casing and a terminal reduced portion having an outwardly directed -flange defining a groove between it and said wall engaging portion, retainer means having an inwardly directed fiange filling part of said groove, said retainer flange deflning an internal groove receiving said external flange, the wall of said packing groove adjacent said casing engaging portion being inclined outwardly away from said retainer means, and a pliant, malleable annulus contiguous said retainer means filling the remainder of said packing groove with a side wall opposed to and contiguous said inclined packing wall.

8. A well packer, including a body, an elongate, non-metallic packing sleeve surrounding said body for engagement with the walls of a casing in which said packer is adapted to be run, anchoring means carried by said body and secured to one end of said packing, and a pliant, inelastic ring encircling and embracing the end of said packing adjacent said anchoring means, said anchoring means having` substantial clearancewith the walls of said casing, and said ring being distortable and movable bodily outwardly by said elongate packing to bridge the clearance space between said anchoring means and casing, whereby to prevent passage of said packing sleeve through said space.

REUBEN C. BAKER. 

